Rudderless circular boat

Abstract

A circular boat comprising a pair of generally dish-shaped members connected together in opposed relationship. A cockpit region is provided abeam of the boat and an outboard motor is operationally but fixedly mounted in a motor well behind the cockpit region and within the perimeter of the boat. A pair of flat skis is rigidly mounted to the bottom of the boat hull. The hull bottom is also provided with a planar section which defines a forward planing surface substantially coplanar with the skis. When sufficient forward speed is reached, the boat rises and planes on the skis. Steering is achieved by shifting of weight by the boat operator over one or the other of the skis, the boat being rudderless. The boat is also equipped with fins projecting laterally from the hull bottom whereby the operator may step onto the hull deck while the boat is underway to dip a fin into the water and thereby cause the boat to make a turn.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circular pleasure boat comprising: dish-shaped bottom and deck members secured together in opposed relationship around the perimeter thereof to provide a circular hull having a longitudinal fore-and-aft axis and a transverse axis;   an amidship cockpit region in said deck member;   a motor well defined by said hull;   motor means operationally mounted in said motor well in fixed alignment with said longitudinal axis;   a pair of transversely space, substantially planar skis rigidly connected to said bottom member and extending longitudinally rearwardly therefrom;   a planar section in said bottom member cooperating with said skis to provide an uninterrupted forwardly extending planing surface with said skis;   opposed fin means associated with said bottom member for assisting in the steering of said boat and each fin means comprising a planar member projecting laterally outwardly from said bottom member on each side thereof and lying along said transverse axis of the circular hull; and   step means in said deck member in vertical registry with said fins whereby an operator stepping on said step means while the boat is planing on said skis will cause a fin to dip into water and turn the boat;   said planing surface acting to elevate said hull substantially above water surface when sufficient forward speed is achieved by the boat whereby said boat planes on said skis and steering of the boat is effected by the shifting of weight of boat operator over one or the other of said skis.   
     
     
       2. A circular pleasure boat according to claim 1 wherein said skis are unitary with a transverse cross-member at the forward ends thereof, said cross-member being secured to said bottom member and cooperating therewith to provide said uninterrupted planing surface. 
     
     
       3. A circular pleasure boat according to claim 2 further provided with a pair of transversely spaced support columns depending from said bottom member, each said ski being secured to one of said support columns. 
     
     
       4. A circular pleasure boat according to claim 3 wherein said motor means is an outboard motor, and wherein a motor mounting means is provided operationally mounting said outboard motor in a fixed position relative to the longitudinal axis of the hull, whereby said motor is non-functional for the steering of said boat. 
     
     
       5. A circular pleasure boat according to claim 3 provided with a longitudinal keel on said bottom member planar section and with a longitudinal keel on each of said skis.